Fish-line reel.



' No. 700,559. Patented May 20, I902.

E. D. ROCKWELL. FISH um: REEL. {Application filed, Oct. 7, 1901.) v (No. Model.) 2 sheetssheet .l.

w: noams m-zas o0. womu'nga. WASHXNGTON. n. c

Patented May 20, I902.

E. D. ROCKWELL. FISH LIN E BEEL. (Application filed Oct. 1. 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shget 2.

(No Model.)

m'tnesses;

m5 NORRIS mans 00., mow-Lima, WASHINGTON. n c,

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. ROCKWELL, or 'i;RIsT0L, C01 iNECT UT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIBERTY BELL COMPANY on BRISTOL; CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORA- TION.

LF sH- NY RE -l-F srncrnrcnrroiv forming eat- 0f Letters Patent Ne. 7oo,5 59, dated May 20, 1902.

' Application filed bctober '7,

To all whom, it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD D.ROCKWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new,

a single actuating device controls the'operation of the winding-cylinder to positively re volve the same in taking in. the line and to apply a drag or brake to restrainthe 'cylinder, the said actuating device being controlled by one hand, leaving thev other hand free to handle the rod. vvl

A further object is to so constructthe device thatit shall always be under the control of the person using it and in whichfit shall be unnecessary to let go the crank or-armin releasing the winding-cylinder to produce 'a free reel and in which the change from'a positive winding condition to a free reelcan be instantly accomplished and in which the drag or brake may be brought into action and released instantly when required.

To the above ends the present invention consists'ofzthe devices andcombinations of devices; which will be hereinafter described and claimed. 1

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,-in which Figure 1 showsa reel in side elevation embodying the same. 7 Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the oppositeside. Fig. 3 shows a diametrical transverse section through the reel and its" actuating crank or'farm': Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the underside of the crank or arm,w-ith the winding-shaft shown in section, and-theratchet-wheel of the winding-shaft, Fig. 4: showing the condition when the crank or arm is connected to drive the winding-cylinder and Fig. 5 when disconnected to pro; duce a free reel. Fig. 6 illustrates the modi- 19o1. "se riain 'vmse (in model.)

fied form of the device, Showing a simple .tlie'crankor arm shown in Fig. 6, with the shaftin'section', and the ratchet-wheel of the winding-shaft, illustrating the connecting and disconnecting positions of the crank or arm.

' Similar letters of-reference will'be employed to designate'corresponding parts throughout the specification and drawings.

sat

.In the drawings, a represents the supporting-frame, comprising a skeleton cylinder at and =the.inc10sing sides or caps a and a Mounted in suitable hearings in the caps a anda isfthe winding-shaft a, which carries i the winding-cylinder 0. p

The device as so far described is constructed like-that shown in my companion application filed of even date herewith, and like the device of said application the present device, as

illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and,3-, is provided with a'clickia andabrake .or drag a sup-' ported upon the inner face of the cap a ,and

thewindingecylinder is driven by'a multiplying mechanism. also 'like'that of the applica' gear a which meshes with pinions a mounttion referred to, comprising a fixed internal p I f.

ed on a carrier at, carried by the shaft a and which in turn mesh with and drive a a, fixed to the winding cylinder'a At this point I desire to say that while the arrangement thus described is one that I.

deem preferable and one which has been foundto produce goodres'ults itis not abso-fl lutely essential to the1present invention, and

the present invention does not-'depend'on any i 9 1 particular form of driving mechanism or any particular form;of brakemechanism and in pinion so far as the present invention is concerned, while it contemplates theluse" of suitable brake or drag it is to beunderstood'that it is not limited' to the'empl'oyment ofiany particu} lar form of brake or drag or an'y particular form of driving mechanism.

It is desired in the present invention to provide an actuating device for a reel so con-;

structed and arranged that by asimpleshiftg ing movement of the crank or arm with relation to the winding-shaft, either axially about said shaft or transversely across said shaft, the crank or arm will be disconnected from said shaft, producing a free reel or connected thereto, and, further, to arrange the brake to be brought into play by lateral force applied to the crank or arm.

In one form of the present invention, as will be hereinafter noted, the disconnection may be produced either by a movement of the crank or arm in a direction reverse to the driving or winding movement while grasping the knob or handle or by a turning of the knot or handle without moving the crank or arm.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 there is secured to the end of the driving-shaft a a ratchet-wheel b, which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is fitted upon a square portion of the said shaft. Movably fitted to the shaft a is a crank or arm I), which is held to the shaft a by a thumb-screw 12*, having a circular boss 6 about which the crank or arm I) is free to turn when disconnected from the shaft a.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, the crank or arm Z) is provided with a suitable pawl arranged to be engaged with the ratchet-wheel b or disengaged therefrom, whereby it is connected to and disconnected from said shaft, and in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the preferred form of this pawl and connecting and disconnecting mechanism is illustrated and will now be described.

Upon its under side the crank or arm 7) is provided with a flange b forming a recess b Within the recess 12 is placed a sliding pawl b, which at its lower end carries a projection 12 arranged to engage a tooth of the ratchet-wheel b. The pawl is held upon the under side of the crank or arm I) by means of the screws Z1 which pass through slots 71 in said pawl. The pawl is normally moved toward and held in engagement with the ratchetwvheel b by means of a spring, which, as shown, consists of acoiled spring b which at one end engages a pin 1), projected from the side of the pawl b, and at its opposite end carries a hook or eye I1 fastened to the under side of the crank or arm I). Y

As hereinhefore stated, I have provided means for withdrawing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet-wheel controlled and actuated by the knob or handle 0, by means of which the crank or arm I) may be turned, and this disconnecting mechanism is so constructed and arranged that it may be actuated to disconnect by imparting a movement to the crank or arm in a reverse direction to the winding movement while firmly grasping the knob or handle, or, on the otherhand, it may be actuated by simply turning the knob or handle 0 about its axis without imparting the reverse movement to the crank or arm. As shown in Figs. 3, 4-, and 5, this mechanism consists of aspring-pawl c, which at its lower end is connected to the sliding pawl b and at its opposite end is bent over into ahook shape and engages a ratchetwheel 0, mounted upon the inner end of the shaft or post 0 which supports the knob or handle c. r

The operation of the device is as follows: A movement of the crank orarm b in-the direction of the arrow 1 (shown in Fig. 1) while gripping the knob or handle 0 will revolve the shaft a and the reel of, thus taking in the line,the pawl 1) during this forward movement being in engagement with the ratchetwheel I). If it should be desired to produce a free reel, this may be done either by turning the knob or handle 0 in the direction shown by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1 while the crank or arm remains stationary or while tightly holding the knob or handle cby moving the crank or arm b in the direction shown by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1. This will resultin a turning of the ratchet c in a direction to cause one of its teeth to engage the hooked arm of the pawl c and withdraw the sliding pawl b from engagement with the ratchet-wheel 1). While in this condition the winding-cylinder a may freely turn, entirely disconnected fromits actuating mechanism, permitting the free drawing out of the line from the reel. Should it be desiredduring this condition of the apparatus to bring into action the brake or drag, this is accomplished by applying force to the crank or arm I) in a lateral direction, as shown in Fig. 3, for instance, in a direction which will cause the shaft and winding-cylinder to move toward the brake or drag (t to force one side of the winding cylinder into a frictional contact with the brake or drag.

It is to be understood that during the oper ation of the device just described the knob or handle 0 is never released by the operator and that while always maintaining his hold upon the knob or handle he can by a simple manipulation of the crank or arm connect it with the winding-cylinder for taking in the line, disconnect it from the winding-cylinder to produce a free reel, and instantly bring into action the drag or brake when desired.

I desire to state at this point that in so far as I am aware of the prior art I am the first to ever produce a fish-line reel where the conditions just described are produced by a single actuating device, and I desire it to be understood that while the illustrated embodiment of my invention is the best one now known to me it is not limited to any particular form of mechaniam for producing such results.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the reel may be constructed and arranged in any desired or usual manner; but it is shown as comprising a skeleton frame (1, having caps d, d and d, a click (1, a winding-shaft (Z and the multiplying mechanism (1, all as horeinbefore referred to and as shown in my said application; but this illus- IIS tration is simply for convenience in describrounded portion 01 of the thumb-screw d tapped in a threaded aperture d in the end of theshaftdi In this form of the invention the crank or arm (1 is'provided with an elongatedslot (1 which permits a movement of the crank or arm across or in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft 61 and upon its under face it carries a tooth or pawl c1 which by the movement of the crankor arm 61 across the axis of the shaft d is arranged to be connected with ordisconnectedfrom the ratchet-wheel (1 as occasion may require, to produce a positive driving connection or a free reel. a

The crank or arm isprovided with a knob or handle d flwhereby it may be manipulated, and in this form of the present invention the brake or drag is produced by the frictional engagement of the crank or arm with thein- 'ner opposing faces ofthe head d of the thumb-screw and .the ratchet d caused by the lateral pressure applied to the crank or arm, which pressure may be toward the reel or away from the reel either by pushing or pulling upon the knob or handle 01 When the pressure is thus applied, the crank or arm is caused to frictionallyen-gage the inner face i of the head of the thumb-screw and the inner face ofthe ratchet-wheel,.thusretarding the turningof then shaft d which, through the multiplying mechanism, retards the turning of the winding-cylinder 61?. I may state .in this connection that-should myv present in-- vention be embodied in areel without a multiplying mechanism thewinding-cylinder and shaft will be fixedly connected together.

It will benotedthatin the modified form of my invention there is a single actuating device which the operator always retains hold of and which by a simple movement may be connected with or dis'connected from the winding-shaft and when disconnected subjected to lateral force to bring into action the brakeor drag. I

I claim a e 1. In a fish-line reel, in combination, a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a drag or brake for restrains ing the turningof said cylinder, a single actuating device for turning said cylinder for producing thedesired frictional contact between said drag or brake and windingfcylinder, and means for connecting and disconnecting said actuating device and windingcylinder, substantially as described.

2. In a fish-line reel, in combination, a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a drag or brake for restraining the turning of said cylinder, a crank or arm for turning said cylinder, a detachable connection between said crank or. arm and said cylinder, said crank or arm arranged to apply the drag or brake when disconnected from the cylinder, substantially as described.

3. In a fish-line reel, in combination, ,a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a crank or. arm for-turning said cylinder, a knob or handle carried by and arranged to turn in saidcrank or arm anda detachable connecting mechanism actuated by theturning of said knob or handle, substantially as described.

4. In a fish-line reel,- in combination, a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a crank or. arm for turning said cylinder, a knob or handle arranged to turn in said crank or'arrn, and means supported by said crank orarm and controlled by the knob or handle. arranged to connect said crank or arm tothe cylinder upon a turning of, said crank or arm in one direction andto disconnect said crank or arm from the cylinder upon a turning of-the crank or arm in the reverse direction-while holding the knob or handle, substantially as described.

5. In a fish-line reel,.in combination, a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a crank or arm. for turning saidcylinder, a sliding spring-pressed .pawl

carried by the crankor arm for connecting 7 :saidcrank or arm to the cylinder, and a knob or handle carriedby said crank or arm and connected to said spring-pressed pawl for withdrawing the pawland disconnecting the crank or arm from the cylinder, substantially, V

as described.

6. In a fish-line reel, in combination, asupporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a crank or. arm for (turning said cylinder, a detachable connecting mechanism between the crank or arm and cylin- .der, apawl-and-ratchet device for actuating the detachable connecting mechanism, andai i and actuatingsaidpawl-and-ratchet 'mechan knob or handle for turning said; crankor arm ism when turnedin a reverse directionto dis cylinder, substantially asdescribed.=

connect said crank or arm from the winding;-'

porting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted 1 to turn therein, a crank or arm for actuating e 7 said cylinder, a knob or handle mounted to.

turn in the free end of. said crank or arm and" v a detachable connecting mechanism arranged to be operated to disconnect the crank or arm from the winding-cylinder by the turning of the'knob or handle,su-bstantially as described.

8. Inafish-line reel, in combination,a sup;

porting-frame, a winding-cylinder .mounted to turn therein, a crank or arm for turning said cylinder, asliding springepressed pawlfor connecting said crank or arm with the cylinder, a knob arranged to freely turn in said crank or arm, a ratchet secured to the inner end of said knob, and a spring-pawl connecting the sliding pawl with said ratchet, substantially as described.

9. In a fish-line reel, in combination, a supporting-frame, a winding-cylinder mounted to turn therein, a crank or arm detachably connected with said cylinder, a drag or brake for restraining the turning of said cylinder,

is said drag or brake arranged to be applied by lateral force applied to the crank or arm when disconnected from the winding-cylinder, substantially as described.

10. In a fish-line reel, in combination, a sup- I5 porting-frame, a winding-cylinder and its shaft mounted to turn therein, a crank or arm detachably connected with the shaft for turning said cylinder, and fixed collars carried by said shaft upon opposite sides of the crank or arm and arranged to frictionally engage said crank or arm when lateral force is applied thereto to restrain the turning of said winding-cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD D. ROCK WELL.

Witnesses:

ADALINE B. NEWELL, ROGER S. NEWELL. 

